ELECTROLYSIS

ELECTROLYSIS :

What is Electrolysis ?

Electrolysis is a method of removing individual hairs from the face or body. In which current is passed through a needle inserted down the hair follicle, to destroy it. It provides a safe method approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for permanent hair removal, alternative for patients who don’t want or are not appropriate for laser treatments. Lasers are great for removing dark hair on white skin, but they’re not great for removing other colors of hair — particularly white or vellus hair. Electrolysis works on these hairs because its mechanism of action has nothing to do with pigment. Each has advantages in different situations.

What are the indications of a Electrolysis? Who are candidates for Electrolysis ?

It is a treatment of choice, for the patient who predominantly has white facial hair.or vellus hair. The other indications are :

1. Eyebrows shaping.

2. African-American patient with very dark skin for removal of dark hairs.

3. Paradoxical hypertrichosis- This consists of thick, dark hairs growing in the lateral face or sideburn area and neck which can be very frustrating for a patient trying to remove hair, and they start getting more hair.

What Causes Unwanted Hair Growth?

Hair growth can be the result of heredity or raised hormone level like androgens or when on some drugs and illnesses that can stimulate hair growth. Electrolysis can be an option when hair growth is in an area of the body where it may not be desired such as on a woman’s upper lip, chin, or bikini line.

To whom is the procedure not suited ?

The advantage of the procedure is that can be done on any skin type. But if there are large number of hair to be removed then laser hair removal can be procedure of choice.

How is the Procedure done ?

An electric current is applied with a very fine needle-shaped electrode, or metal probe into each hair follicle to destroy the root. If the patient cannot tolerate pain then local anaesthetic creams can be applied before starting the procedure. This procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on number of hair to be removed.

What happens after the procedure?

After the procedure there will redness and swelling at the treated area. This can be reduced by applying ice compresses for first 24-48 hrs . Recovery times are usually less than one week.

What are the advantages of electrolysis?

1. It’s a method which can be used to get rid of hair permanently

2. It can be used on different types of hair like thin hair, white hair and on any skin type.

What are the risks or cons of the procedure?

The most common ones include redness and swelling, which last up to a few hours, in the treated area. The risks are less if is done by an expert person. Some of the disadvantages are.

1. Bent follicles can make electrolysis hair removal harder. Previous waxing or tweezing can make hair follicles bent or misshapen, and getting the needle to the root more difficult to destroy the follicle.

2. Multiple treatments are needed , which will take up a considerable amount of your time.

3. Skin can get discolored or can cause temporary hyperpigmentation or scarring which is most likely to occur if it’s improperly done.

4. Some people consider electrolysis painful but there are ways to get around that, such as using topical anesthetics. 5. Time consuming as compared to Laser hair removal.

How long do the results last?

It is a permanent hair removal technique but does require multiple sessions to achieve best possible results.

How Many Electrolysis Treatments Will I Need?

Many factors influence hair growth and all the hair are at different stages of growth, so multiple sittings may be needed. The total number of sessions needed to remove hair permanently from a particular area will vary from person to person and on number of hair to be removed. This can be 3-6.

What should be the gap between two sittings ?

It can be done every weekly or every other week as needed. But the unwanted hair will be gone forever once the series of treatments is complete.

How Laser hair removal or Electrolysis can be better than temporary methods of hair removal done in salon?

Temporary methods of hair removal done in salon include use of chemical depilators, waxing and bleeching. Chemical depilatories (liquids or creams) contain irritating chemicals which can be harm full to the skin like can lead to increase in pigmentations. Likewise, bleaches contain harsh chemicals and do little to disguise dark hair. They may also discolor skin and can damage the elastin fibers leading to lax skin if done often.. Waxing is another temporary method of hair removal and is usually done in salons. A hot wax is applied to the skin and removed once it has dried over the hair. The hair is stripped off when the wax is removed. Waxing can be painful and at the same time can cause paradoxical hair growth where in the hair becomes more thick and should have to be done regularly. Laser hair removal or the electrolysis can be used to reduce or permanently remove the hair. These treatments done by experts can be safe. Laser hair removal can also cause rejuvenation of skin and postpones aging.